Behind the Eyes

All Music Guide Review

"For the Minute," the opening track, is as exquisite a pop tune as you'll find. Evoking thoughts of the Beatles, Emmit Rhodes, and Eric Carmen, the cover photos of a semi-faceless Tim Moore -- only hair, eyes, and facial outline behind multiple skies and clouds, a red ribbon behind him -- is very reflective of the music. The back cover has the face that's missing from the front and is a good argument for putting CDs in album jackets. "Lay Down a Line to Me" has flavors of Dan Fogelberg in the voice and a Bernie Taupin-type line: "Take me out of focus." "I Think I Wanna Possess You" is a nice little stomp that would make Screamin' Jay Hawkins proud. "Now I See" is a pretty, hook-laden essay with Moore's wonderfully naïve voice at his most expressive. But it is "Rock & Roll Love Letter" that just explodes off this disc, shaking up the easy listening format the way Eric Carmen's "Hey Deanie" would give a jolt to his laid-back LPs. Both songwriter/singers have that '70s formula down. This hit for the Bay City Rollers has so much integrity in its original form, some kind of inverted, mutated Chuck Berry riff and sentiment with T.Rex-style piano and guitar frostings. "Rock & Roll Love Letter" is Moore's signature tune and a complete turn around from his sweet pop ballads. "If Somebody Needs It" is a bubbly pop tune that Peter Noone or the Monkees could have a field day with; "The Night We First Sailed Away" has subtle strings, a charming theme, and would be a nice duet if Randy Edelman was around for the recording. "Kaptain Kidd" has Moore rocking out again and is not as strong as the rest of the material, but that was part of the fun of '70s albums, their ability to stretch out and jam. "Bye Bye Man" closes the LP with more orchestrated pop from this singer/songwriter. ~ Joe Viglione, Rovi